The Plain English Approach to Business Writing

Coaches in sports often speak of the importance of fundamentals. Players who forget fundamentals often fail. Most top players drill every day. They want to make sure that the basics of the game never need to be thought about -- their bodies do them automatically. Writing may be the same as sports. Fundamentals should not be forgotten. Bailey's book helps with that. You won't find anything really new here. The points he emphasizes are points you will see in most books of this type. But Bailey's book gives clear, concise coaching on how to write well, in plain English that gets a point across powerfully. It's a book that I turn to often, to make sure that I don't forget the fundamentals.

Much of what passes for business writing today is so convoluted and pompous that it is difficult to understand. Here's an example: "Subsequent to the adoption of the latest employee policy regulations-cum-guidelines, it is incumbent upon (said) employees to rigorously review the current documentation; and to then advise (or at the minimum, contact) management regarding any perceived, needed exceptions...." How about this instead: "Please review the proposed guideline changes, and let us know if they make sense and support current policies. If not, we'll change them." Far too many people think they need to write business prose with grandiose words and phrases, passive voice, third person and past tense, when actually such practices muddle their messages. Into the business-writing breach comes Edward P. Bailey Jr., a master of composition, and an expert at teaching people to write and speak plainly and simply. Although even the professor lapses into dullness now and then, getAbstract thinks that anyone who wants to write - and thus communicate - more effectively can learn a lot from reading this short, sensible book.

This is the best little book I've read and used on business writing. As a teacher I'm always looking for simple, practical guides that will improve my students' and my own business skills. This book gives useful, practical advice and practices exactly what it preaches. Its even clear enough and well written enough for me to use with my Japanese students. This is the kind of guide that should be available on-line and in various language versions. Highly recommended.